Hungary Elects Anna Unger to Lead New Anti-Corruption Body

Hungary's parliament selected Anna Unger to lead the National Asset Recovery and Protection Office (NVVH) on Friday, a key component of the Tisza government's anti-corruption initiatives. The NVVH, established in July, is an independent institution responsible for tracing and recovering misused public assets and identifying officials who may have enabled corruption.

The office operates under the authority of parliament and has the capability to access financial and official records, conduct investigations, and refer cases for prosecution.

The NVVH's election motion passed with a majority of 137 votes in favor and seven votes against. Notably, most opposition Fidesz and KDNP lawmakers opted to abstain from voting, continuing their ongoing boycott of the institution, which they have dubbed a "new ÁVH" - a reference to Hungary's communist-era secret police.

While Tisza's supermajority provided a level of support, the selection process unveiled some internal dissent. One Tisza MP, Marlon Melláthei-Barna, disclosed his vote against Unger, citing professional preferences for another candidate, Miklós Ligeti. Despite Unger's notable academic background as a democracy researcher at ELTE University, she has faced criticism in recent years.

In late 2024, she came under scrutiny for her involvement in the review of doctoral dissertation of Balázs Orbán, a senior official under former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Critics questioned the appropriateness of a university official facilitating a PhD for an individual from a government that had frequently clashed with academic institutions.

However, Unger defended her decision, emphasizing that academic evaluations should not be influenced by political affiliation. She later stated that the controversy had made her resilient against public attacks.

During her parliamentary hearing, Unger outlined the NVVH's objectives, emphasizing not only asset recovery but also the identification of institutional chains and decision-makers that contributed to corruption. She highlighted the need to investigate who facilitated corruption, who failed to initiate proceedings, and who neglected their responsibilities in agencies like the central bank.

Unger cautioned against expecting immediate results, acknowledging that while criminal proceedings may take six years, final judgments often require significantly longer in Hungary's legal system. Her remarks elicited accusations of "sabotage" from former prime ministerial candidate Péter Márki-Zay, who defended the appointment, stating that his government remained committed to transforming the current system.

Unger's term as NVVH head is set to commence on September 1st. The office is currently in need of three additional deputies, as previous applications were deemed invalid.